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The home of flaky croissants and escargot has put the kibosh on television and radio news programs from using the words Facebook and Twitter on air unless the reporters are referring directly to a story involving the two companies.

The new law means that no longer can an anchor say "follow us on Twitter" at the end of a newscast.

France’s Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel, which regulates the airwaves in the country, said using the names of the companies is a form of "clandestine" advertising for the two Bay Area-based social networking sites, which violates a 1992 French law prohibiting the promotion of commercial enterprises on news programs.